Buhari Congratulates Lawan, Gbajabiamila As Senate President, Speaker

By Lukman Amusa       

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the newly elected presiding officers of the Ninth National Assembly.

This was contained in a statement Tuesday evening by his spokesman, Femi Adesina.

Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila, both annointed candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged as Senate President and House of Representatives Sepaker, respectively.

The President saluted all the national legislators and their political parties for their display of patriotism and non-partisanship before and during the election.

He commended the transparent and fair nature of the voting process, adjudging it as a plus for the democracy in the country.

The statement added that Buhari described the emergence of the new leaders of the legislative branch of government as “a new dawn, different from duplicity and perfidy of the immediate past.”

He charged the winners to use their exalted positions for the higher interest of the country, her people, and for the growth of democracy.

According to him, “The Executive does not desire a rubber stamp Legislature. While separation of powers is essential, collaboration among all Arms of Government should be the name of the game. Opposition need not be virulent.”

“Stepping into the Next Level, the legislature has a big role to play for the goals of the administration to be achieved,” stressing that, “This is for the ultimate good of the nation.”

The President urged contestants who lost out to be gallant in defeat, and join hands with the victors who should exhibit magnanimity and eschew vindictiveness.

“At the end of the day, we, the people, who elected our representatives at the national level, are the winners,” he added.